The number of vehicles exempted from toll at Khaniwade plaza has shot up tremendously in Maharashtra, says the IRB report.
In the 130km stretch between Charoti and Boriach on the Dahisar-Surat highway, the number of vehicles being exempted from paying toll has only gone up, in some cases by a whopping 1,48,440%.
As per the rules of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), vehicles exempted from paying toll tax include those of the president, vice-president, Central and state ministers, leaders of Opposition, MPs, speakers of Union and state legislatures, foreign dignitaries on state visit, lieutenant governors of Union territories, defence, police, emergency, and central and state government vehicles on duty, among others.
In Maharashtra, the number of vehicles exempted from toll at the Khaniwade plaza has shot up tremendously. This was observed during a traffic count done between February 22 and March 20 in 2016. During the same period last year, only 20 vehicles were allowed to pass without paying toll. In 2016, however, the number swelled to an astonishing 29,708 – a rise of 1,48,440%.
Also read: Toll Tales | Motorists argue and drive away without paying toll on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway: IRB report
As per the data accessed by dna, between February 22 and March 20, 2015, a total of 3,672 vehicles were exempted from paying toll at Boraich plaza near Valsad in Gujarat. This number swelled to 13,100 this year – a rise of 256.75%.
At Charoti plaza near Dahanu in Maharashtra, there was a 9.25% increase in the number of exempted vehicles in a year. Last year, 10,738 automobiles were given free access as compared to 10,738 vehicles between February 22 and March 20 this year.
What is interesting to note is that the vehicles falling under the exempted category also include buses, trucks, light commercial vehicles and Multi-Axle Vehicles (MAV). For example, during the same spell of 28 days last year, only 25 MAVs were exempted as per the NHAI rules, but this year, the figure rose to 432. The movement of cars, too, increased manifold, from 3,054 last year to 11,368 light utility vehicles.
The IRB Surat-Dahisar Tollway Private Limited is handling the data and toll management on the highway, and this period will expire on February 19, 2021. The agency has maintained silence over the subject of exempted vehicles.
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